Solid-state image pickup device

Abstract

In a solid-state image pickup device, it is difficult to match an optimum incidence angle corresponding to an image height of a pixel array region with light incidence characteristics of a camera lens, thereby causing image quality deterioration due to sensitivity shading. Respective microlenses are disposed in a two-dimensional manner, i.e., in a row and a column directions. In particular, the microlenses are disposed such that each side of a disposition region where the microlenses are disposed has a concave curve with respect to a line connecting adjacent vertexes of the disposition region. In other words, a distance A H (A V ) between center points of a pair of facing sides of the disposition region is set to be smaller than a distance B H (B V ) between neighboring vertexes of the disposition region.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A solid-state image pickup device, comprising a pixel array region, on a semiconductor substrate, where a plurality of pixels are two-dimensionally disposed in a row direction and a column direction with a first pitch, wherein
 each of the pixels includes:
 a photoelectric conversion region; and 
 a microlens for converging light into the photoelectric conversion region, 
   the microlenses are disposed in a disposition region such that a second pitch of the microlenses in a central region of the disposition region is smaller than the first pitch, and   a third pitch of the microlenses in a peripheral region of the disposition region is the same as the first pitch.   
     
     
         22 . The solid-state image pickup device according to  claim 21 , wherein and
 an outer shape of the pixel array region has a rectangular shape,   an outer shape of the disposition region has at least one curve which connects two adjacent vertexes of the disposition region and is concave with respect to a line passing through the two adjacent vertexes.   
     
     
         23 . The solid-state image pickup device according to  claim 21 , wherein
 a shape of a border of the central region and the peripheral region is substantially circle whose center is substantially same as a center of the pixel array region.   
     
     
         24 . The solid-state image pickup device according to  claim 21 , wherein
 the pixels are disposed such that a pitch between the pixels in a peripheral portion of the pixel array region is greater than a pitch between the pixels in a central portion of the pixel array region.   
     
     
         25 . The solid-state image pickup device according to  claim 21 , wherein
 the solid-state image pickup device is an amplifying-solid-state image pickup device.